STL Partnership tours Operation Food Search

Renovation taking place at OFS headquarters

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) recently toured Operation Food Search (OFS), which is undergoing renovation of its Overland, Mo., headquarters that is expected to be completed later this year.

The renovation project includes the addition of more than 2,000 additional square feet of freezer and cooler space, additional warehouse racking for shelf-stable food storage and an expanded hydroponics program. A new teaching kitchen and demonstration garden will be added to the facility, plus improvements to client meeting spaces and volunteer/staff spaces.

The project is being funded by an $11 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) loan from STL Partnership with U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance serving as the NMTC investor. Smith NMTC Associates, LLC provided NMTC services for the project.

Funding for the loan was made possible by the Heartland Regional Investment Fund (HRIF). The HRIF provides financing to projects in distressed communities through the federal NMTC program as determined by managing members: the City of St. Charles, Southwest Illinois Development Authority and STL Partnership.

OFS provides food and services to 200,000 individuals every month through a network of 330 community partners in 27 counties across Missouri and southern Illinois.